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birria tacos recipe

Vibrant Mexican kitchen with a plate of crispy birria tacos, a bowl of consommé, a Dutch oven on the stove, and traditional spices and chiles.
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Birria tacos, also known as quesabirria, are a delicious Mexican dish featuring tender, flavorful meat stuffed into crispy tortillas. Here’s how to make them step-by-step.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Birria:

  • 2 pounds boneless chuck
  • 1 pound oxtail or bone-in short ribs
  • 1 teaspoon neutral oil (e.g., avocado or vegetable oil)

For the Sauce:

  • 7 ancho chiles (trimmed and de-seeded)
  • 7 guajillo chiles (trimmed and de-seeded)
  • 3 chiles de árbol (trimmed and de-seeded)
  • 1 white onion (peeled and halved)
  • 6 garlic cloves (peeled)
  • 4 Roma tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 Mexican cinnamon stick
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 3 cups beef broth or water (divided)

For Assembling the Tacos:

  • Corn tortillas (12–16)
  • Shredded Oaxacan cheese or mozzarella
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Diced white onion
  • Lime wedges

Instructions

1. Prepare the Birria:

  • In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Season and sear the meat on all sides until browned.
  • Soak the dried chiles in hot water for about 15 minutes until soft.
  • Blend the soaked chiles with onion, garlic, tomatoes, spices, vinegar, and enough beef broth to make a smooth sauce.
  • Strain the sauce back into the pot with the seared meat. Add bay leaves and enough broth to cover the meat.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 3 hours until the meat is tender.

2. Shred the Meat:

  • Remove the meat from the pot and shred it using two forks. Set aside.

3. Prepare the Tacos:

  • Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Dip each corn tortilla into the layer of fat that forms on top of the birria broth.
  • Place the tortilla in the hot skillet, add a generous amount of shredded meat and cheese on one half, then fold the tortilla over to create a taco.
  • Cook for about 1 minute on each side until crispy and golden brown.

Find it online: https://gourmetgleam.com/birria-tacos-recipe/